Luminaire having end members and quickly detachable side panels



Sept. 4, 1951 B. D. LEVAUR ET AL LUMINAIRE HAVING END MEMBERS AND QUICKLY DETACHABLE SIDE PANELS Z Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 INVENTOR. Bernard 0. Levaur fric 0. A/rree THE/R A TTORNE Y8 Sept. 4, 1951 B. D. LEVAUR ET AL 2,566,845

LUMINAIRE HAVING END MEMBERS AND QUICKLY DETACHABLE SIDE PANELS Filed Sept. 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Bqrnard D. Levaur BY Er/c D. A/Iree Maw/w, vdwaw THE/R ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 4, 1951 .LUMINAIRE HAVING END MEMBERS AND QUICKLY DETACHABLE SIDE PANELS Bernard D. Levaur and Eric D. Altree, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Pittsburgh Reflector Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 8, 1949, Serial No. 114,498

Claims.

This application relates to luminaires, more particularly to luminaires which are attached directly to a room ceiling or which ar suspended from the ceiling on stems. Such luminaires comprise a raceway, end members, electrical equipment (lampholders, ballasts, etc.), opaque or translucent side panels which extend the length of the luminaire from one end member to the other and form both the sides of the luminaire and a means of light control, and a reflector and louver assembly below the lamps.

After a luminaire has been installed, it is frequently necessary to remove the side panels for cleaning and for repair or replacement of the electrical equipment. We hav invented simple efficient means whereby the side panels of a luminaire can readily be removed solely by hand. This same means, however, holds the panels securely when they are in place in the luminaire.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated certain present preferred embodiments of our invention, in which- Figure 1 is an isometric View of a luminaire constructed in accordance with our invention;

Figure 2 is a section along the lines II-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an elevation view of an end member;

Figure 4 is a side view of an end member;

Figure 5 is a section along the lines V-V of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of a side panel;

Figure 7 is a portion of Figure 2 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 8 is a partial section on the lines VIII- VIII of Figure '7; V

Figure 9 is an isometric view of another form of the side panel which may be used with our invention; and

Figure 10 is an isometric view of a luminaire equipped with a side panel such as is shown in Figure 9.

A luminaire constructed in accordance with our invention comprises a raceway I! which may be fastened to the ceiling of a room by screws or bolts which pass through its horizontal surface. The luminaire also has end members I Lside panels l3, fluorescent tubes [4 and light diffusing means here shown as louvers I5. The louvers are connected to each other by a V-shaped sheet metal reflector l6 and they are held at each end to the end members H by means not shown in the drawings inasmuch as this forms no part of the present invention. The sheet metal raceway I! extends the length of the luminaire from one end member II to the other. This raceway housesthe electrical equipment, such as ballasts, lampholders for the fluorescent tubes l4, etc. Such electrical equipment is standard and is therefore not shown in the drawings.

As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 the end members are bent back on themselves along each or their side edges. The metal is then bent at right angles to the plane of the end member to form transversely extending flanges is which are offset inwardly from the sides but follow the contour of the sides of the end members. Each flange l8 has a slot I9 cut in its upper edge and an opening 20 cut adjacent its lower edge. The purpose of the slots and openings will be later described.

Figure 6 shows a side panel such as may be used with our luminaire, the panel here shown being opaque. The panels l3 are sheets of metal curved to conform to the contour of the side members and having intumed edges 2| and 22. Reinforcing ribs 23 may also be formed in the panel. Each panel carries at eachend a spring clip 24 which is secured to the panel by any suitable means, rivets being shown in the drawings. A hook 25 is formed at the upper end of each spring clip by bending a portion of the clip backover itself as shown in Figure 6. The lower end of each spring clip is bent approximately at right angles to the body of the clip to form an inwardly extending lug or tongue 26. As shown in Figure 6, the tongue extends approximately at right angles from the main body of the clip for a short distance. It next slopes upwardly and outwardly (as at 26a) and then approximately at right angles to the clip body (as at 2th). The end of the tongue is curled back on itself into a substantially complete circle to form a small bead 21.

Figures 2, 7 and 8 show how the side panels are fastened to the end members. Th side panels are first held in such position that the hooks 25 on the springs will slide down into the slots I9. The lower edge of the panel is then swung inwardly against the end members to press the tongues 26 into the openings 20 on the flanges I8 in the end members. As the lower edges of the panels are pressed toward the end members, the portions 26b on the tongues 26 engage the upper edge of the openings 20 in the flanges [8 on the end members. Continued inward pressure of the side panels momentarily deflects the tongues 26 until the upper edges of the openings 20 flt into the troughs formed by the portions 26a and the bodies of the clips and are held there by the spring of the clips.

Figure 9 is an isometric view of another form of side panel which can be used with our invention, the panel here shown being translucent. This panel 28 is in the form of a rectangular frame which supports separate panels 29 of transparent or translucent materials, such as glass, plastic,- etc.- The panel 28 ,has :spring clips 30 which are the same as thesp'ring clips heretofore described and which engage transverse flanges'on the end members of a luminaire as described with reference to Figures:2gi7 ..andl8. Figure 10 is an isometric view of atlumina-ireihaving side panels such as the panel 28. Thisluminaire is otherwise the same as thef'luminairejshown in Figure 1.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that our luminaire possessessimple-secure 1 means for holding the side panels 0f,1?he.1uminaire in place. At the same time the panels can easily be removed. by hand whenever it is desired.

extending flanges adjacent their side edges, each flange having aslotextending downwardly'from itsftop edge and anfopeningf adjacent its lower edge, the side panels having spring clips which carry hooks which fitinto the'slots in the flanges and inwardly extending tongues whichresiliently engage theflanges at said openings when theiside ,pan'elsare. in positiono'nj the luminaire.

2.. In ailuminaire'having end membersiand side panels, means 'for removablytsupporting" the side .panelsin position said means comprising translversely extending flangesion'theen'd membersad- .jacent .the .side edges. or. said members,- aslot in the top of. each' flange and an opening adjacent the lower edge ofieachi flange, and spring-clips on the side panels each 'c'liphaving ahook which'is adapted to rest in one loiithe'slots andan inwardly ,extending tongue which resiliently engages one of..thejfianges at said openingin the flange when the, side. ,panels, are. in position ionfthe "luminaire.

I 3.'1In a luminaireha'ving'end members and side panels-I means .forfremovably .supporting'l the side panlsin position "said means comprising transversely extending flanges on. the end members adjacent the side edges of said members, an opening in each flange and spring clips on the side panels said clips each having a tongue adapted to extend through one of said openings, the tongues being bent first approximately at right angles to and away from the body of the clip, the tongues then being bent upwardly and outwardly away from; the clip to =-form;a;;trough adapted to engage an edge of said-0pening"when the panel is in position on the luminaire, the tongue then being bent downwardly and outwardly to form a surface adapted to engage an edge of said open- ':in,g, whenjthe panel is beingmoved towards the end members whereby to deflect the tongue so ".that it' can-wpassthrough said opening during Qmovement ofithepanels towards the end mem- 'bers.

.4...A support or @the side panels of a luminaire as described in claim 3 wherein the clips are secured to the panels at a position on the clips spaced from the tongues of the clips.

5. Inja luminaire having end members and side pan'els, means -for-=removably suporting; the side panels in position said means comprising transversely extending flanges on the end --members adjacent the -slde-edges of said members, a

slotin the top of each flange and an opening adjacent the lower edge of each flange, and spring clips on the side panels each-clip having a hook which is adapted to rest in one of 'the slots, each clip also having a tongue adaptedto extend through one of said openingsthe tongue being bentfirst approximately at rightangles to and away-fromthe bodyof the clip, the tongue then 'being'bent upwardly and outwardly away, from-the clip to form a trough. adapted to'engage an edge of said opening when the panel is position-on the luminaire; the tongue then being bent downwardly-and outwardly'to form a surface adapted to engage ,an-edge of saidropening'when the panel is being-movedtowards'theend members whereby' to deflect the tongue sojthat it can pass through said openin during movement of the panels towards theiend members.

BERNARD DLLEVAURV -ERIC'D. ALTREE.

' REFERENCES-cum) The following -references. ,-are, of record in-.-the

file of this patent:

UNITED'=:STATES PATENTS 

